Mississippi authorities continue to investigate the killing of Tasia Fortune after discovering her body hanging from a tree behind an abandoned home in Jackson.
Police arrested 51-year-old Jarques Ratliff on a murder charge Friday after encountering him walking along a city street.
The state medical examiner office determined the death was a homicide, allowing investigators to execute pre-existing warrants.
Jackson Police Chief RaShall Brackney noted Ratliff had an association with Fortune and emphasized that the investigation remains active.
Explaining that the arrest marks progress rather than the case conclusion, Brackney confirmed additional arrests will be pending as officers follow evidence.
Stressing the emotional impact of the arrest, Fortune’s mother Christy Spivey expressed immediate relief to investigators.
Recalling her reaction upon hearing of the arrest, Spivey shared her tears and gratitude: “I just started crying and told them ‘thank you, thank you, thank you.’”
Spivey remains determined to find answers for her daughter, a 29-year-old mother of four and former star cross-country runner who struggled with homelessness.
Vowing to honor her memory, Spivey urged the community to keep speaking about her daughter: “Say her name. Keep it going.”